Tabla de contenidos para January 2023 en RiDE

RIDE READER TONY BROOKE-TAYLOR Tony's been riding for 20 years, mostly on European bikes and mostly while living down south. He moved back up to Yorkshire a few years ago to be full-time carer for his wife and now swaps between an Aprilia RSV Mille with flat bars and a CCM R30 Supermoto: “I ride all year round but once they start salting the roads, I'll put the Aprilia away and use the CCM.” SHOW US YOUR ROUTE GET A GREAT PRIZE! Email rida@rida.co.uk and tell us about your favourite rids and if published, you'll gat a great prize to say thanks. The Metzaler Roadtec 01 SE – winner of RiDE's 2020 touringtyrs test – is a great tyre that works in all conditions. www.metzeler.co.uk I MEET TONY AT his house…

IT IS OFTEN said that as one door closes, another one opens; this couldn't be truer with Suzuki. As we mourn the death of the iconic GSX-R1000 in Europe, which disappears from the range in 2023, the Japanese firm has whipped the covers off two brand-spanking-new middleweight parallel twins. Ironically, the first new large-capacity bikes for Europe since the final GSX-R1000 back in 2017, the twin-pot duo is spearheaded by an attractive new naked called the GSX-8S. This sets its sights on the Yamaha MT-07 and Honda's incoming CB750 Hornet (more on p26). Slotting in between the V-twin SV650 and four-cylinder GSX-950S (both also A2 compliant) the 8S is powered by a Euro5-friendly 776cc parallel-twin nestled within a fresh steel chassis. This is also shared by the incoming V-Strom 800DE…

›; £TBC › › 46bhp › 39lb.ft › 740mm seat height Meet the Super Meteor 650, the latest edition to Royal Enfield's 650 twin range. The cruiser shares the same air/ oil-cooled 648cc parallel twin as the Interceptor and Continental GT. Available in standard and Tourer trim, there's a new tubular-steel frame with gently set bars and an easy-going seat height of 740mm. It has a 19in front and 16in rear forged wheel. The gearbox position has shifted to accommodate the wider rear tyre. It gets 43mm upside-down forks – a first for the 121-year-old firm –and twin shocks with 101mm travel at the rear.…

› c. £50,000 › 209bhp (race kit) › 86lb-ft 845mm seat height MV Agusta has looked into the history books to create a stunning new superbike called the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro. The retro rocket is based on the Brutale 1000RR supernaked and shares the same 998cc four-cylinder engine, suspension, and chassis. It slots in above the Superveloce 800 as the most powerful retro in the Varese firm's line-up and is set to cost around £50,000 when it arrives in the UK in 2023. The seventies styling is said to be based on the firm's 1972 500 grand prix racer, with 40 elements including the fairings and winglets produced in carbon fibre. MV claims these wings produce 39.2kg of downforce at 199mph. You also get carbon-fibre brake-disc covers, which attempt…

NEW BIKES FIRST RIDE HONDA CB750 HORNET HONDA CB750 HORNET YOU ONLY HAVE to look at the spec list to see that Honda's new CB750 Hornet is set to create a mouth-watering buying choice in the middleweight class — particularly when you factor in the price. On sale at a quid under seven grand and the first hike to feature the firm's new 91bhp parallel twin, it is both cheaper and has more stomp than its big-selling rivals such as the £7695, 80bhp Triumph Trident 660 and the £7500, 73bhp Yamaha MT-07. Honda's previous light-middleweight challenger, the four-cylinder CB650R, will remain on sale when the Hornet arrives. In fact, Honda is so proud of it that it has revived the Hornet name for its new superstar middleweight. First seen in 1998,…

THIS ONE-LUNG WONDER is the first Herald to be designed, engineered and assembled in-house. Urban streets and gnarly country lanes are where it works best. In these environments, its SOHC, 4v motor (built by Chinese concern Zongshen and also used in Fantic's excellent Cabellero), modest dimensions and 145kg dry weight make for a punchy package that's quick off the mark, eager to turn and a delight to hustle. Herald claims just shy of 43bhp for the Brute, making it A2-licence compliant. As a first ‘big’ bike, the Brute ticks a lot of boxes. It's easy to handle, comes with light, responsive controls, is compact enough to manhandle into tight parking spaces and its performance is the perfect stepping stone to a more powerful future purchase. Low-revs fuelling can be hit…

NEW BIKES ZERO DSR/X BIG QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THE CAR world, the shift towards electric or hybrid technology has already happened. However, due to the physical size of a motorcycle and the associated issues with battery location, changing to this power source still seems a step too far, too soon for many. So, while sales of small-capacity electric city scooters have rocketed (they more than doubled from 2020 to 2021 with 6028 units sold in 2021 compared to 2451 in 2020), less than 2.2 % Of these sales were ‘big’ electric motorcycles with engines above 35kW. Is this about to change? For 2023 two manufacturers have launched all-new ‘green’ adventure bikes – Energica with the Experia and Zero with DSR/X. Boasting the latest motor and battery technology and with ranges…

Luggage £1658 Zero sells a 38-litre aluminium topbox and mount kit for £510 with 2.5mm-thick steel pannier mounts at £299 and aluminium side panniers £849 for a pair, which feature removable lids and reinforced corner caps. Belt tension checker free or £30 Developed by Gates, which manufactures the drive belt, there is a free app to measure the belt's tension frequency using your smartphone's microphone after you ‘pluck’ it to create a vibration. A more accurate manual tensioner ‘click gauge’ is £30 from Zero. Touring screen £160 It is pretty unlikely aftermarket firms will make screens for the Zero as the market is so small, so if you want to increase its weather protection through a taller touring screen, you need to buy directly from Zero.…

To calculate torque the dyno needs to know the engine speed. On a petrol engine it's easy but with an electric motor it's not, so we can't verify Zero's claimed torque figure. Power can, however, be calculated against speed and we can learn a lot from the power curve. The DSR/X made 90.2bhp, 8bhp shy of Zero's claim, but the interesting part is how linear the curve is as it climbs. This suggests a flat torque curve until 55mph which is when it starts to tail off slightly though there would appear to still be plenty developed. THE FACTS Cost £24,150 Motor Z-Force 75-10X air-cooled permanent-magnet AC motor Battery 17.3kWh Li-Ion Power 98.6bhp (continuous 47.3bhp, claimed), 90.2bhp (measured) Torque 166lb-ft (claimed) Transmission Clutchless direct drive Frame Tubular-steel trellis Front suspension…

The Tiger 900 was launched in 2020 in Rally and GT guises. The GT Pro model gets electrically adjustable shock, quickshifter, LED foglights, a centrestand and TPMS. There have been no model changes so far. 1 Check the clutch Tigers have a late, abrupt biting point and a tall first gear, so much slipping is done. On GTs they're a weak point. 2 Make sure it has the right accessories Standard equipment is great, as are options. OE panniers are a must and if the bike has an aftermarket screen, get the original, too. 3 Watch service costs Intervals are every 6000 miles with a major service at 12,000. It's involved (valve clearances) so budget at least £600. 4 Check for toppling damage It's easily done, so check exhaust, leading edge of panniers and…

› John Duxbury, 58 › 2020 Ténéré 700 › 9800 miles The Highs “A mate of mine bought a T7 and I liked the look. Had a go on it, and it was really good so I bought one. The engine is an absolute peach; I love it. Power everywhere. The bike is a well-sorted package, it's reliable and it looks really good. I rode mine to the Pyrenees in the summer, with five other T7 owners. Just fantastic, riding down across France.” The Lows “The seat is shite. Really, really bad. I've got a Cool Cover on it which makes a big difference (and when it rains you're not sitting in a puddle) but overall it's too hard and uncomfortable.” The Tweaks “The 12V socket is wired to the…

GO ANYWHERE DO ANYTHING MOST LAIRY ADVENTURER KTM 890 ADVENTURE R › £13,000 › 103bhp › 74lb-ft › 210kg › 880mm seat THE KTM BOUNDS through the whoops, alive and energised, suspension working hard as it absorbs the undulations. Ahead, the rutted byway rises and falls though the forest, picking its way between the pines. I'm working hard, choosing a path and riding my luck over the compressions – they're big enough to pitch a 900cc motorcycle into the air and the engine note rises and falls as tyre and terra firma part company. I'm living the adventure-bike dream, revelling in the scenery and solitude, crossing the countryside at a pace that's only just in my comfort zone. But it is hard work. I'm sweating and suffering; hot and bothered.…

GARAGE LONG-TERM TEST BIKES HONDA NT1100 WE'VE RIDDEN THE NT through blizzards, gales, rainstorms and blistering summer heat, covering thousands of miles on motorways and back lanes, scratching the pegs and sliding on ice. And the humble NT1100 is nothing if not divisive. From its X-ADV maxi-scoot styling to a dull set of colour options; the absence of shaft drive on a tourer to whether an Africa Twin motor and frame mated to road-bike running gear is a sports toure or just a tourer; the NT is a Marmite bike So what's the truth about the New Touring 1100? Here is what we learned about over the course of the year and those 3500 miles… 1 It's not the new Pan European No, it's closer to an allrounder like Honda's CBF1000.…

GARAGE LONG-TERM TEST BIKES SUZUKI GSX-S1000 GT 07550 MILES “IT'S A BRILLIANT yee-hah bike,” says Ed Matt as he hands me the key to the GSX-S1000 GT outside Caffeine and Machine (see December 2022 issue). I can almost feel it pulsing with intent as I try to cram my belongings into the panniers to start the 180-mile ride home. However, as it's late and getting dark (as are the clouds), I elect to head straight for the M5 rather than enjoy a blast through the Cotswolds, seeking a fuel station with an air-line on the way; Matt also told me “The tyres need checking”. It needed a good clean and going over with rust preventer too. As such a good all-rounder, it had had a fairly tough life in the…

› TBC › 117bhp › 69lb-ft › 820-835mm seat height Yamaha is taking new strides into rider safety with the Tracer 9 GT+, which becomes the first model from the Japanese firm to feature radar cruise control. The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) keeps the rider one of four set distances away from the vehicle in front using a radar fitted to the nose. Acceleration will also be limited if the system detects you're riding around a corner and you can pass cars with the tech running provided you use your indicators, which should eliminate motorway jerkiness. It can be switched off altogether if you'd prefer. Suspension is also semi-active as you might expect and a new, more conventional colour TFT display lets you control the three riding modes.…

› £23,595 › 166bhp › 93lb-ft › 790mm seat height Like other Ducatis, the Diavel ditches its 1262cc V-twin for an 1158cc V4 Granturismo lump for 2023, complete with rear-cylinder deactivation. Arriving in January 2023 at £23,595 (red) or £23,895 (black), the new cruiser is said to be 13kg lighter but is still 223kg without its 20 litres of fuel. There's a new aluminium monocoque chassis and major service intervals of 60,000kms. The seat is 10mm taller than before, with the bars set 20mm closer for ease and there's 15mm more rear-suspension travel. You don't get semi-active suspension or radar cruise, which makes the price tag feel that bit saltier.…

› £TBC › 83bhp › 58lb-ft › 855mm seat height Honda isn't the only Japanese firm moving into the mid-sized all-terrain adventure segment for 2023. Enter the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE, which shares the same engine and main frame as the naked GSX-8S (see page 14) and a side profile not dissimilar to the F850GS. Producing a touch more power, thanks to its exhaust routing and different mapping, the 230kg parallel-twin V-Strom gets a special Gravel mode for off-road frolics plus a 20-litre fuel tank capable of a claimed 280 miles of range. Elsewhere, expect fully-adjustable suspension with 220mm of travel, which leads down to a 21in front and 17in rear wheel running Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour rubber as standard. 2023 NEW-BIKE SPECIAL…

As with all electric vehicles, claimed and actual range are very different. Zero claims a ‘city’ range of 180 miles, a highway range of 107 miles at 55mph, 85 miles at 70mph and an EU Regulation range (combined highway and city simulated on a dyno) of 107 miles. During testing and with the 110% charge (the DSR/X allows you to over-charge the battery to extend its range) the Zero dropped just over 1% of charge per mile when ridden gently and at national speed limits on A-roads in Standard mode, giving it a range of just under 100 miles. In Eco mode at 55mph and 70mph, it gave realistic ranges of 119 miles and 96 miles respectively. On a spirited but legal twisty B-road ride in Standard mode, it sucked…

NEW BIKES ZERO DSR/X ‘The electric motor's response is fantastic’ PIERS DRURY, 50 Height 5ft11in Owns BMW R1250 GSA, Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 What's good? “I was impressed by the riding position, which I found comfortable and relaxed for a rider of my size. The motor's response and acceleration were fantastic; I really loved it, and it felt like it had a very good throttle connection. It takes some going to out-grunt a GS but it did! The handling was surprisingly impressive as well; better than I expected it to be, and very agile.” Not keen on? “I found the seat too hard and the suspension a bit unforgiving; definitely missing the semi-active on my GSA — it felt less plush to ride. I'd like a bit more weather protection…

THE BIG RIDE THE FACTS The route 65 miles of prime riding through Exmoor, from the open moorland of the north coast overlooking the Bristol Channel through to the leafy lanes in the heart of the region. Why it's great Freedom — although popular with tourists, the combination of winding roads and space means Exmoor rarely feels crowded. When to go Anytime — spring brings freshness, summer brings sun and autumn brings colour. It's pretty in winter but weather can be brutal. Where to visit Anywhere along the north coast but Lynton and Lynmouth are picture-postcard pretty. MELLOW-SWEET PINE-SCENTED woodsmoke drifts down to the beach from a cottage behind Porlock Weir's seashore, flavouring the sharp early morning air with a chaired burr. Across the Bristol Channel's platinum-blue expanse, the Vale…

DOWNLOAD THE ROUTE www.ride.co.uk Best for The best scenery and riding in Southern England. Length 65 miles. Route A39 from Porlock to Lynmouth, then onto the B3223 to Simonsbath and eventually Dulverton. Take the A396 to Wheddon Cross, briefly on the B3224, follow signs to Dunkery Beacon, then signs for Munster. Roads Generally pretty gnarly, with some tricky bends and some of the steepest uphill (and downhill) hairpins in the UK. Love it because It has a bit of everything you could want — scenery, riding, history and food! Take a picture at The top of Porlock Hill, looking down across the bay. Stop for a cuppa at The Coffee Mill in Lynmouth (but there are no shortage of alternatives all around the region). ALSO TRY… Dartmoor Loop Best for…

Yamaha Ténéré 700 > £9900 > 72bhp > 50lb·ft > 204kg > 875mm seat Hits the adventure-bike G-spot: twincylinder performance for big miles on the road, light and agile to handle lanes Triumph Tiger 900 > From £11,595 > 94bhp > 64lb·ft > 194-201kg > 820-880mm seat GT for the road, Rally for road and dirt. Pro models get huge gadget list and all have sweet handling, great engine and Triumph's excellent finish quality. Read more about the GT Pro over the page. KTM 890 Adventure > From £11,499 > 103bhp > 73lb·ft > 216kg > 830mm seat Base model KTM is a brilliant, sorted package: excellent off-road, sublime over long distance, comfortable and rapid. R adds better suspension and more height. See more on page 68. without getting a…

› Dave Hughes, 40 › 2022 Ténéré 700 Rally › 1000 miles The Highs “I tried one at the ABR Festival, fell in love with the Rally and put a deposit down. The Ténéré is so good at getting into work, winter riding, with fuel economy, and good off-road too. It's the balance; great engine, easy to use, it's comfy off-road straight away. I'm surprised such a big bike could be so good off-road. I do a 12-hour shift, and the headlights are great in the dark!” The Lows “Tubed tyres are a bit of a pain. I got a pinched flat going over a bump in the road, so I was stranded for a while. But the bonus is I suppose I'll learn how to fix a flat myself,…

This is what you need to know… Introduced in 2019 as the 790 Adventure, it became available in both standard and long-travel R specifications. Upgraded to 890cc in 2021, it gained almost 10bhp and a smoother character. They're solid bikes but you do need to buy a good one… 1 Cold starting problems Some bikes have had issues with cold starting, with only a single cylinder sometimes firing. Check your prospective bike isn't one of these. 2 Misted clocks TFT dash is vulnerable to water ingress, so never use a jetwash, even obliquely. Some dashes are replaced under warranty. 3 Sticking brake light Perma-on brake light may be the application of the lever confusing the pressure switch when the ignition is off. Needs a dealer to sort it. 4 Check it has the right…

RATED THE RiDE PRODUCT TEST WE SHOULD ALL know that making sure your tyres are inflated to the right level is crucial. As specified in your bike's owner's manual, the correct pressure will support the weight of the bike and present the tyre in the correct shape onto the road. Too low a pressure and the tyre will run on the outer edges, decreasing ultimate grip, increasing wear and causing a loose, wallowing suspension feel with a decrease in accuracy. Conversely, too high a pressure means that the tyre will run on too narrow a central band and again, grip will reduce and wear will increase while the ride quality is likely to be hard and uncomfortable. Each of these situations is far from ideal from a safety point of view…

GARAGE USED BIKES USED BUYING GUIDE 2008-2019 | £4000-£10,250 | 180mph | 178bhp FOR A BRIEF couple of years around 2009, the Japanese ‘Big Four's’ superbike offerings appeared to be going in different directions. Yamaha came out with ‘big bang’ crossplane R1; Suzuki had gone all lardy with its K9 GSX-R; Kawasaki was about to unleash a screaming, trackfocussed ZX-10R; and Honda ignored the rush to electronics to launch its curvy but brilliantly road-suited Fireblade. With its creamy, effective 178bhp, impressive comfort, handling, build and distinctive looks, the Honda stood out as a superb street superbike – even if it didn't have the gizmos and outright power to win on track. And, with successive updates, gaining C-ABS in 2009, a subtle facelift in 2013, a classy SP version in 2014…

As such an effective workhorse, it has suffered a little in the past year and needed some TLC. The front-left indicator wasn't working so I ordered up a replacement but on stripping the fairing off, I discovered the electrical plug was disconnected. Of course, no-one knew how that happened… Plug back in and job done. Matt was right about the tyre pressures – they were low and were low again a few days after topping up, leading me to believe there is a slow puncture in the rear. As it is beginning to square, I'll change both when I get a chance. The chain – as well as other fasteners – was also looking a little orange so a fastidious dose of anti-corrosion was essential before my first ride.…

HIGH-MILE HEROES Celebrating the people and bikes that go the distance CAMERAS “I have Innov front and rear cameras which I think are essential these days. I use captured images to see where I could improve my riding.” ELECTRICS “There was a recall to re-route wiring around the headstock, and I've had two starter solenoids, four batteries, one new main fuse and the earth-side wiring loom.” TYRES “I get 8000 miles from a pair. I change well before they're on the limit –pushing for an extra 1000 miles is a false economy. Last two sets have been Roadsmart Ills but I'm about to fit some Michelin Road 6 GTs.” COMFORT “My best luxury is a Russell Day-Long Saddle; it does what it says. The bike's wired for heated clothing too,…

Mayenne, France On a recent trip to Switzerland and back, I got a bit lost in France on my BMW K1200S – which fortuitously turned out to be a great way to find the roads less travelled! After a ride through the Loire Valley, I stumbled across Dick and Angel Strawbridge's home from the TV show Escape to the Château, the Château de La Motte Husson. I didn't enquire about room prices though… Tony Jeffery Get your bike in RiDE & win a Bike Trac system Each month the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac security tracker with a year's BikeTrac subscription. As well as helping recover your bike if it is nicked, it logs journeys and gives live battery voltage information, too. How to send us your photos Email…

FRONT END RIDE INVESTIGATES NEXT YEAR LOOKS set to be a torrid period across the globe as inflationary pressures bite, with gas shortages in Europe, high oil prices and continuing echoes of Covid reverberating through manufacturing industries and supply chains. With a strong US dollar cutting the purchasing power of other currencies and a UK government that…s expected to ramp-up austerity in the coming months, the only sure prediction about next year's motorcycle market is that it will be… unpredictable. Supply, availability and prices The disruption caused in manufacturing and supply chains by Covid has meant a shortage of in-demand new-bike models over the last couple of years. While the problem is starting to ease, if demand remains high then there may be delays for some models. “We do see…

› £TBC › TBCbhp› TBClb-ft › 950mm seat height Italian exotica brand Bimota has produced a new BX450 enduro model, based on the Kawasaki KX450X. Made possible by the Japanese brand owning a 49.9% stake, the BX will join the range for 2023. Production is said to have already started, with the tricolore off-roader based heavily on the £8499 Kawasaki and powered by a 449cc DOHC liquid-cooled, four-stroke single. This sits in the same aluminium perimeter frame, with an electronic enginemanagement system, multiple maps and traction control. Weighing 110kg dry, the BX distinguishes itself from the Kawasaki with a front headlight and handguards and a bigger 10.7l fuel tank. Providing grip is a set of Metzeler Six Days tyres, with 335mm ground clearance. You also get an Arrow exhaust can,…

› £TBC › 74bhp › 51lb-ft › 830mm seat height Fantic is making the most of its partnership with Yamaha, announced in 2021, by cramming the popular CP2 motor from the MT-07 into a retro Caballero model. Almost bursting out of the steel chassis, the spec sheet makes for delicious reading; around 74bhp and 51 lb.ft of torque with a weight of 180kg without fuel. It should be an absolute wheelie demon. Connecting the frame to the 19in front and 17in rear rims is a set of 45mm upsidedown Marzocchi forks, plus a single rear shock which is adjustable for preload. Brembo brakes with cornering ABS provide the stopping power, with a 3.5in colour TFT dash sitting up front for your vital information. Expect it to arrive in dealers in…

'Why are you covering the clutch and brake?' In the December issue, on page 59, is a great photo of two bikes and presumably experienced riders, on the same road and position. So what's the idea behind ‘Furygan Man’ covering both levers? Is he braking or changing gear? I see this a lot in bike mags; it just looks unsure and hesitant to me. Is it a race thing? Does it give the rider more time to react? Is it proven? In which case, should we all be doing it? It's not advised to use the clutch pedal as a footrest in a car, after all… R ‘Furygan Man’ is Simon Hargreaves and, like me, he always covers the brake with a finger or two. The main reason is the fact…

‘Should a bike with high-tech rider aids mean a different style of riding?’ Q I'M LOOKING AT buying a new R1250GS with all the gizmos – it's the TE, so it has semiactive suspension and loads of rider modes, for example. Having previously had purely analogue bikes, are there any ways my riding should evolve to take advantage of the tech? Rob Grant, London A FOR THE MOST part, no. The core principles of good riding involve learning throttle control, acceleration sense and vision so we're always in that sweet spot of having time on our side; we arrive at hazards at the right speed and in the right gear to settle the bike, deal with the problem and then power it through the other side. If I'm following a…

The motor keeps things light 755cc 270°-crank parallel-twin uses Unicam; a single cam operates all eight valves. The primary drive also doubles as the balance shaft. Motor has the most power and torque in the middleweight class. The bolt-ons are worth it Accessories are available individually but we'd go for one of two packs: the £555 Sports Pack has an up/down quickshifter, lighter footpegs, rear-seat cover and fly screen. The £765 Touring Pack comes with a three-litre tank bag, tailpack and hard panniers. It might be too small for some Smaller riders won't have a problem but for the tall, the seat has too little front- to-back room, so your lower back touches the rear seat-pad.…

Zero has enlisted Bosch to help develop its Motorcycle Stability Controls and on the road, the angle-responsive ABS and TC perform well. The brakes are linked and although underwhelming in their performance, this feeling is mainly down to a lack of engine braking from the electric motor, something that can be dialled in by increasing the regeneration (engine and brakes) via Zero's app or swapping modes. Do this and the deceleration feels more reassuring. On the go, the TFT dash is nice and clear when it comes to the information that matters (speed, battery percentage and range) but the cruise-control system is disappointingly basic, as it is a simple on/off button and lacks any ability to trim the speed. The switchgear also has something of a budget feel to it…

NEW BIKES ZERO DSR/X 1 Engine The great thing about electric bikes is that the motor is a sealed unit and therefore you never need to touch it and the same is true of the battery. Zero offers a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty on the battery and a two-year warranty on the bike itself, which is pretty reassuring. 2 Details The Zero uses quality components such as Pirelli tyres and Showa suspension, although the J.Juan brakes are a bit less eye-catching. The screen's adjustment system is neat and effective, there are two 12V sockets and loads of handy storage. The switchgear is a bit cheap-feeling, which is a shame. 3 Finish Overall the level of finish on the Zero DSR/X appears reassuringly high with a good fit on the fairing's panels. The seat's lock…

You should never attempt to work on the electrical systems yourself and, while the Zero does contain a small separate 12V battery which is located under the seat, its job is basically to fire up the bike's onboard operating system to allow the main battery to function and it isn't a great idea to piggyback it and fit items such as a heated kit. Use the two 12V accessory connectors instead, which are located by the dash and left-hand side of the bike. In theory the belt drive shouldn't require its tension altered that regularly (you can buy a tension monitoring click gauge for £30 or use a free app) but it is a bit disappointing that the DSR/X lacks a centrestand and there is no optional accessory one. The…

BIGGER ISN'T ALWAYS better. Top-end, flagship adventure bikes — big BMW GS, V4 Multistrada, 1290 Super Adventure and Tiger 1200 — are miracles of high performance but their overwhelming excess has a few downsides too. They're physically imposing, not exactly convenient for nipping about, they're a handful off-road and they ain't cheap. But alongside that exclusive top tier sits a diverse pool of alternative machinery — middleweight ‘mid-class’ adventure bikes, populated by all kinds of capacities, tech specs and budgets from every manufacturer; anything from Chinese brands at one end right up to flagship Italian bikes at the other. These bikes are mid-class only in the sense that there are larger, faster, heavier beasts out there; in many respects, mid-class dual-purpose bikes out-shine and often out perform their bigger rivals.…

GO ANYWHERE DO ANYTHING BEST TARMAC ADVENTUR TRIUMPH TIGER 900 GT PRO › £13,295 › 94bhp › 64lb-ft › 198kg (dry) › 840/820mm seat SOMETIMES, THERE IS a gap between what we want and what we need. That's certainly true when it comes to our choice of adventure bikes. BMW GS Adventures outsell stock GSs, despite being worse for UK roads and the same is true with lairy, R-model KTMs. You see, the off-road-focus of an ‘off-road’ adventure bike can't help but be a compromise – it's easy to end up with suspension that's unsuited to tarmac, noisy knobbly tyres and stratospheric seat heights. But that doesn't stop them selling in their droves. The exception is Triumph; the road-going Tiger 900 GT Pro outsells the trail-loving Rally Pro by a factor…

› Chris Chattaway, 62 › 2020 Ténéré 700 › 20,000 miles The Highs “I was attracted by its simplicity – the lack of tech. Plus I could go off-road with confidence in the bike, but also go two-up on the road. So it's an option. It's pretty good at everything. The ergonomics are good and both standing up and sitting down feel natural. It's a compromise but it's pretty good at anything – from green-laning to travelling. I went to the Ardennes earlier this year and it took me there and then went off-road while I was there. The bike can cope.” The Lows “It's not been a great experience. I've had atrocious warranty service for poor finish quality in some areas, and I'll never buy another one. Absolutely shocking.…

This is what you need to know… T7 mechanicals are excellent: you won't be blowing clutches or using loads of oil, and electronics are mostly as reliable as they get. Same for the Rally (uprated cosmetics, onepiece seat, bash plate, Akra can, TFT dash) and World Raid (bigger tank, better suspension, TFT dash, heavier). 1 Cosmetics The T7 is a bike that wears battle scars well. But flaking paint, furry fasteners and rusting spokes aren't so cool. 2 Rusting tanks The underside of some T7 tanks are known to rust. Catch it under warranty, or be prepared to re-paint yourself. 3 All mods conned? The T7 is a popular bike for modifying so check any are to your taste or they are fitted as you'd fit them. 4 Electrical niggles Rare but a few…

POWER OPTIONS The gloves come with two batteries that lasted 1h35m in our tests on high power but you can add the (£79.99) Super Boost cable to hardwire to the bike's battery for unlimited heating LINKED CONTROLS Both gloves are activated by pushing one of the two buttons handy to only need to take one hand off the bars to change the heat levels. There is also an app with more controls and settings Furygan Heat X Kevlar £299.99 www.furygan.com THE CLAIM “At the heart of this product, a fabric incorporating Kevlar® fibres captures and evenly distributes heat while protecting the hand. Heat is generated by a double wire running from the back of the hand to the fingertips, and its heat transfer is spread by the Kevlar® as well…

Oxford Mondial gloves £99.99 www.oxfordproducts.com I've been using these since they won our three-season-glove Product Test in the November ’22 issue and am still impressed. They have loosened up with wearing – a function of leather construction – but remain comfy and still fit nicely. They are not overly hot on warmer rides and have kept my hands dry in several long, wet ones. The touchscreencompatible fingertips still don't work all the time, which is a little annoying but you can't really knock them for that. They look and feel more like sporty gloves than those designed to keep you warm and dry. If it is likely to stay closer to 10°C than freezing, they are bang-on. JIM BLACKSTOCK Squire Massiv £199.99 www.squirelocks.co.uk At just over 5.5kg, this combination is…

RATED THE RiDE PRODUCT TEST - TYRE-PRESSURE GAUGES - ‘Solid reading and an absolute bargain’ The numerical scores show that almost all of the gauges here do a great job. Accuracy is rarely worse than 1psi and build quality is generally very good. Almost all are easy enough to use – crucial when it comes to checking tyre pressures. However, there is a very clear winner. The Draper gauge has the joint-best accuracy, is easy enough to use to get a solid reading first time and is an amazing bargain, at less than £10 online. On that basis, it is deserving of a Best Buy triangle as a product that will serve you well in the workshop or even to take with you if you're on an extended tour. Taking…

GARAGE THE DIRT THE DIRT KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT 2016-2022 > 173bhp > 104lb.ft … 209kg … £7900-£16,299 A SUPER DUKE with a fairing, it's a brilliant marriage of brutal performance and practicality. Updated in 2019 with an extra 2bhp, TFT dash, LED lights and quickshifter but with its potent V-twin and fine handling mostly unchanged, the SDGT may be pricey new but deals are available and used examples can be had from under £8K. However… 1 It can be a pain… Most consider the stock seat comfortable for little more than an hour with the optional, heated gel ‘ergo’ seat not much better (though warmth is welcome). Not great for a sports tourer with a 200-mile tank range. Others grumble about restricted leg room, low screen and heat from…